I strongly oppose this Bill…

I strongly oppose this Bill and the repeal of Ontario's Cap and Trade framework. This Bill is not supported by any evidence and is premature, given that nothing has been suggested to take its place. Ontario must honour its agreements with the Federal government and the international agreements on climate change and the reduction of emissions within set targets. This is the most important issue of my generation and there is no business case for allowing polluters to pollute. I don't care if gas prices double -- pollution affects us all and this Bill concerns our planet, our health, and our economy. The Climate Change Mitigation and Low-carbon Economy Act, 2016, is absolutely necessary in order to address climate change, and encourage investment in renewable energy. It is already clear that renewables have taken over traditional fossil fuels and are an obvious source of jobs, bringing significant investment to Ontario. This Bill does not address any of those objectives. I want to see initiatives from this government which address these concerns. But more importantly, I want to see evidence-based bills and policies. I would not necessarily oppose this Bill if there was a well-researched, thoughtful, and evidence-based policy in its place. In the absence of that, it is reckless to repeal the CCMLEA as it has been proven to work. The Environmental Commissioner of Ontario has reported:

“Dismantling a climate change law that was working is bad for our environment, bad for our health, and bad for business… A meaningful climate law needs science-based emissions budgets, a legal obligation to stay within those budgets, and credible, transparent progress reporting. Ontario can still choose sensible solutions that help families make ends meet while bringing climate pollution down. Polluter-pay tools, for example, give people more choice and a fair reward for reducing their emissions, and can help reduce other taxes they pay.”

As well, I oppose the government's initiative to prevent any cause of action from accruing against the Crown from the repeal of the CCMLEA -- The Crown should be held accountable for its actions and be responsible for any and all damages for breach of contracts, any detrimental reliance, and negative impacts on businesses which flow from this Bill.

In conclusion, I strongly oppose this Bill and fully support the continued operation of the CCMLEA.